Contracts Navigator

Job Summary

Manages the overall contract process by reviewing all requests pertaining to LHI’s vendor contracts, ensuring timely review and negotiations of all new contracts, as well as any amendments, renewals, or change requests to existing contracts, while at all times ensuring compliance to policy and regulatory requirements. Reviews and routes contracts to key stakeholders as well as LHI’s paralegal staff and/or in-house counsel and ensures timeliness and accuracy of review/approval processes. Serves as liaison between vendor, business owners, key departments, and leadership on all vendor contracts, serving as point of contact for specific questions, issues, and concerns, and assisting in the negotiations of terms and conditions to reach mutually beneficial agreements. Ensures contract related disparities and conflicts are identified and communicated to LHI’s paralegal staff and/or in-house counsel or the Contracts Manager for appropriate resolution and in a timely manner. Alerts Contracts Manager when concerns around contracts, systems, or processes arise. Identifies potential problems or conflicts and evaluates and develops alternative solutions which are approved by Contracts Manager in consultation with in-house counsel to contractual process issues. Works closely with LHI’s key stakeholders, in house counsel and paralegal staff to ensure all contractual obligations are met.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Legal Studies, or other related field.
Minimum Years of Experience: 3 Years of relevant experience in Contract Administration, preferably within a healthcare setting. 
Substitutable Education & Experience: None
Required Certifications/Licensure: None 
Required Training: General Knowledge of federal/state regulation and contract laws; 
Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements related to healthcare contracting;
Knowledge of procurement methods, competitive sourcing practices, and healthcare contracting;
Skilled in general business writing; Experienced in supplier/contract management;
Knowledge of procurement and contracting principles and practices, contract preparation, developing request for proposal;
Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing interests effectively and efficiently; 
Working knowledge of ERP systems (PeopleSoft), Oracle systems, document management systems, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving skills and strong computer skills.

Essential Functions

• Makes a positive impression on both internal and external stakeholders by behaving in ways that are warm, welcoming, professional and helpful and by eliminating barriers that stand in the way of safety and the provision of best practice care.
• Displays mutual respect for patients, physicians, team members, visitors, and family/significant others.
• Demonstrates action via keeping interior and exterior surroundings clean and orderly; dressing professionally and displaying team member identification badge at collar level; presenting LHI in a positive light to others; for patients, employees, guests, and their self.
• Behaves in a trustful manner by communicating openly and honestly; following through with assignments; behaving in a fair and consistent manner; and supporting teamwork at all levels of the organization.
• Seeks opportunities to incorporate enjoyment in the workplace by celebrating accomplishments of the organization, self, and others; and helping to remove barriers to enjoyment in the workplace.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with employees, team members, patients, families, and key stakeholders, gaining trust and respect.
• Demonstrates through actions that patients, families, and internal and external stakeholders are a priority.
• Consistently utilizes operational and patient centered care principles and practices.
• Manages the overall contract process by reviewing all requests pertaining to LHI’s vendors, ensuring timely review and negotiations of all new contracts, as well as any amendments, renewals, or change requests to existing contracts, while at all times ensuring compliance to policy and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to work with external stakeholders in obtain information on products and services needed by business owners.
• Conducts reviews of assigned contracts for consideration with business owner on opportunities for renewal or termination.
• Reviews, redacts and routes contracts to key stakeholders as well as LHI’s paralegal staff and/or in-house counsel, and ensures timeliness and accuracy of review/approval processes.
• Ensures pricing is appropriately benchmarked and is within fair market value.
• Ensures contract deliverables are clearly outlined within the agreement.
• Serves as liaison between vendor, business owners, key departments, and leadership on all vendor contracts, serving as point of contact for specific questions, issues, and concerns and assisting in the negotiations of terms and conditions to reach mutually beneficial agreements, including communication with necessary parties to clarify contract terms.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensures contract related disparities and conflicts are identified and communicated to LHI’s paralegal staff and/or in-house counsel or Contracts Manager for appropriate resolution and in a timely manner.
• Alerts Contracts Manager when concerns around contracts, systems, or processes arise.
• Supports contract management system by working with the department leads and administrators to ensure accuracy of records within the system.
• Ensures all incoming contracts are accurate and in compliance with LHI policies/procedures and federal and state regulations.
• Ensures key stakeholders and LHI Legal Team has a thorough contract summary, containing accurate contract information to fully evaluate the arrangement, including the identification of potential risks and benefits associated with the contract.
• Develops an understanding of legal issues to determine appropriate level of engagement by in-house counsel.
• Manages contracts, amendments, and change orders by reviewing submissions, and collaborating with departments and LHI’s Legal Team to make adjustments when needed.
• Collaborates with departments in order to continuously improve the contracting process.
• Assists with the resolution of contract discrepancies between vendor and LHI.
• Ensures proper approval and documentation is submitted throughout the contract approval process.
• Ensures all contracts align with LHI’s operational objections, strategic goals, and policies, as well as all legal regulations.
• Provides guidance on the interpretation of the contract policies and procedures.
• Provides post award contractual support.
• Develops relationships with LHI staff to become familiar with customers' goals and requirements.
• Functions in various capacities and completes special projects as required by the Contracts Manager.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.